Mad Tea Party

August 30, 2007

I am a big, no wait, make that HUGE fan of antique/vintage textiles and linens. What little I know about my collection is entirely self taught. Beginning today, I am going to slowly begin to add pictures on a regular basis of my collection. If anyone ever reads this who knows anything about one of my pieces, please do tell!!
The first item in the photos is a piece that I believe was meant to be draped over a pillow. Maybe not. Maybe it is just a square tablecloth? What I would really like to know is what is this "style". I'm familiar with the "turkey red" pieces that are similar, having designs that are probably more art nouveau. But more and more frequently I am coming across this particular style, a bit more folksy? A recent magazine had a similar piece with a bird incorporated in its design, framed and hung beside the bed. Where did this style originate? Is it German? Hungarian? I am very curious to know. Oh my goodness! The next piece with the bold red and green stripes...I get all giddy just thinking about it! I actually found a pair of these at an estate sale here in town. I happened to just discover the estate sale by accident late in the day. Figuring that I was safe from temptation and that everything of interest had been picked clean already, I decided to check it out. Just as I thought that I was going to remain a good girl and walk out empty handed, I spotted this pair tossed across a day bed. Being a little familiar with these I immediately recognized the texture of the fabric. My heart started pounding. It couldn't be. They must be on hold. Something must be serously wrong with them. Scared out of my wits, I asked to see them. I was right! They were in such good condition I couldn't believe my eyes. Apparently no one else could either which is why they were still there. As I stood there examining them, I was asked by several different ladies what I planned to do with them. I got the impression that no one knew what they were. These are especially long number one. I think that they were meant for much higher ceilings and doorways than we have today. Also. Number two, If you look closely. You'll notice that the fringe is much heavier on one end. I think this was so that they could draped over a rod and hung gracefully. One lady at the sale thought they were bedspreads. Yet another thought they were huge tablecloths. No one could figure out why they were different at both ends. If anyone out there has one of these, whatever you do, DO NOT GET IT WET!!!! The color in these will run horribly! Trust me, I know the hard way. They sometimes show up on ebay and will be described as "faded" or "sun damaged."
No, somewhere along the way someone tried to wash it. Even so, I think that some people are actually seeking them out this way and redying them. And I have seen them used as bedspreads in magazines as far back as Victoria Magazine about 10 years ago. These can be very plain or extremely elaborate in design. Photo #3 is of one that I actually won on ebay several years ago. It was one of those things that just slipped through the cracks. Somehow I was able to get for close to nothing and miracle upon miracles, no one outbid me. I've never seen another like it and I think that it is fairly unusual. And very heavy I might add. It has similar tassles to all the others although these almost feel like they are made out of some type of chenille. There is some damage but I don't mind. Someday I do plan to repair it so that the damage won't be as noticeable. Were they made here in the U.S? Are they European? Exact time period? Anybody out there know???? Anyone????

August 25, 2007

We're heading to a birthday party an hour and a half away and we'll be losing pretty much the rest of the day. So you'd think I'd be doing my dishes so they won't stink up the house upon our return, Or putting a load of my husbands clothes in the wash like he asked me to. But no. I thought that I could sneak into my crafting room and finish one small project. Well one thing (plus my inablity to focus on one task for long) led to another & before you knew it I was trying out the new glass cutter we discovered yesterday. Here I was minding my own business as we walked trough a local flea market friday morn. We even left really late, hoping that everything would be picked over so there would hopefully be less to be tempted by. But alas. I stumbled upon this beautiful glass cutter for $10. I don't know about anyone else but I tried. I really, truly tried to teach myself how to cut glass with a $3 special from Home Depot. I just couldn't master the task. After months and months of picking the darn thing up and wasting a pile of glass I finally splurged on a lovely little yellow Gryphon on eBay. It was a total gamble but it actually works quite nicely. THEN this $10 miracle walked into my life!! Cuts glass like butter. If you're attempting to do anything with glass, stained glass, microscope slides, y'know, keep an eye out for this baby. And speaking of soldering. Well that's a whole other story. I am trying to master this technique as well. Here are a few of my screw-ups for your perusal. ......German Glass Glitter in Lapis. Isn't that the best???.....Back to the soldering mishaps.
Oh oh. I'd better go. Eggbert is giving me the ol evil eye. I'm supposed to be getting ready, note to self.

August 23, 2007

Here are a few more of my antique boxes. I started out posting just my beveled glass boxes. As I started poking about however, I came across a few others. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that one." The very first box with the shredded blue lining is actually pretty large in size compared to my others. These boxes used to be so hard to find. I'd be lucky if I came across 1 in an entire year. Let alone one that I could afford. This was all before Ebay of course. At any given time there are any number up for grabs. Competition is usually fierce however. Most of my boxes are fairly common. Trust me, there are some spectacular, very elaborate boxes out there. Actually, come to think of it, I have a thing for beveled glass period. And beveled mirrors. Apparantly I'm susceptable to antique beveled anything. If anyone ever reads this who knows even a little something about these beveled boxes in particular, PLEASE let me know. I think that they originated in France but I'm not sure. I've seen pictures of beautiful French doll carriages dating back to the 1870's with similar tufted linings. The glass box with the unusual twisted legs I purchased from a wonderful, magical little store in Barcelona about 13 years ago. Spotted it as I strolled on an ancient narrow winding street. Sigh...I've also seen these for sale in Rome. For like $200-350 each I might add. The third picture is of what I think was originally a box made to hold perfume? Oh yeah, another "thing" I have is for anything with original Victorian velvet. No, correct that. Antique and vintage velvet period. I love silk velvet from the 20's to funky groovy printed velvet from the 60's. Oops. I degress...Back to the red box. It's lined with light blue silk. Kind of a goofy choice but I had to possess it anyways. Photo number 4 shows the inside. I stuffed it with some bits & pieces (Austin Powers) that I had hanging about.

August 20, 2007

Y'know. When I first decided to create this blog, I thought that it would strictly be a crafting blog. Actually, I felt myself pulled in several different directions with this blog. I didn't actually know much about blogs and I sort of was under the impression that a blog had to be black or white, one thing or another. Even though that in my life, I am in no way black or white. Nor do I want to be. Since starting this I have been lucky enough to get my little paws on a copy of Somerset Studios "Artful Blogging." The bottom line being that this blog will probably change from day to day like plenty of others. Another tool to express ones self however one sees fit. I never seemed to have a problem expressing myself (as my friends and family will testify) in the past but this is a whole new world for me. I'm just gonna write and post and do whatever strikes my fancy. At the moment I feel like putting up a few pictures of my favorite antique beveled boxes: The box with the bright pink velvet (that was added by myself) was found in a thrift store in Long Beach, California for like $3. Thought I was going to have a stoke when I spotted the price tag. Y'know that heart-starts-pounding-I-think-I-might-score feeling. It's missing its back which may or may not have been glass at one time. For $3 I sure don't mind. The teeny tiny round one is one of my faves because of its size. That "take me to your leader" pin propped up in front of it has been in our family since forever. It's one of those things that my mother seems to have always had in one of her cases. She always had these cases just crammed with little bits and pieces, odds and ends that she picked up. Growing up I would stand for what seemed like eons and just stare. Always spotting something new and that I hadn't noticed the last time. Sorry mom but sometimes I thought you were goofy for doing this but what do ya know? I turned out the same way. I guess goofy is in our blood. She also has a small white plastic Gandhi. We always joked that it looked like my dad in his shorts.

August 18, 2007

I've been having a very difficult time dealing with the loss of my beloved baby pup Marley. Haven't been motivated since to blog or craft much. I think my husband was feeling a bit low today too and he agreed to go on a little drive. We headed out to the Stampington & Co http://www.stampington.com/ annual parking lot sale. Well I must admit, this sale took my mind of things for a little while. I asked him to take some pictures while I got caught up in the frenzy but he got caught up in all the hoopla too and only took 2 photos. One of the sale as it first started and another of me 3 weeks after my hysterectomy with my tummy looking as if I am 7 months pregnant. That's me in the lower right corner. This is was my first time attending this sale. As I was standing in line & chit chatting with a very nice fellow crafting addict, I was informed that last years sale had all the Stampington & Co magazines on sale for $1. Imagine my glee. Even after I learned that this year they would be $2!!!. Back issues, recent more current issues, $2 a piece. Several of their specialty publications such as BEYOND PAPER DOLLS, BELLE ARMOIRE JEWELRY & HAUTE HANDBAGS were up for grabs for $5-10 each. Whatta deal! So natch I treated myself to a few back issues AND a lovely jar full of German Glass Glitter in Lapis. I forgot to take a picture of the glitter. It's such a beautiful color blue that I'm probably not going to ever want to break it out and use it. Speaking of blue, I haven't been completely uncrafty the last week. I played around with the following piece and now I'm not quite sure how to finish it. At first I had it hanging from a small baby blue metal hanger but that wasn't quite doing it for me. I'm thinking about maybe attaching it to a little tree branch? Hmmmm...

August 13, 2007

Download Patterns.html
Here is just a teaser from one of my favorite poems. It reminds me of the movie and book "Orlando" by Vita Sackville-West. Which also just reminded me that somewhere around this house I have a vintage copy of the book. If I remember correctly, Vita dedicated the book to Virginia Woolf. Where the heck is that book anyways? Hmm..Going to have to see if I can find the movie. It starred Tilda Swinton and...and...and...oh my goodness. Was it Billy Zane? For some reason Billy Zane is coming to mind. I remember that the costume work in that movie was beautiful and very detailed. Don't think anyone actually saw that movie other than myself and my good friend Jain. I think Victoria Magazine also did a story on the movie. I'm going to have to look all this up on the internet now. Sidetracked again!!!*****Ooops. Boy was I wrong. I just went looking for my book and luckily I found it. I had it backwards. The book was written by Woolf (duh) and dedicated to Sackville-West. I'm tired. Look what else I found: a web site dedicated to the movie. But big dummy me can't figure out how to add a link here properly so I will add it off to the right instead.

Patterns

I walk down the garden paths,
And all the daffodils
Are blowing,
And the bright blue squills.
I walk down the patterned garden-paths
In my stiff brocaded gown.
With my powdered hair and jewelled fan,
I too, am a rare Pattern.
As I wander down the garden paths.

My dress is richly figured,
And the blue train
Makes a pink and silver stain
On the gravel...

Not sure when this was written but Ms. Amy Lowell lived from 1874-1925.

August 10, 2007

Early the other evening, just as I was in the middle of enjoying myself @ the ARTSYMAMA Artful Blogger party, my precious baby dog Marley passed away. Now I know that many people do not understand the big deal over the death of a "just a pet", but for all intents and purposes he was my baby boy. In my life and in my world he was an irreplaceable little angel incredibly in love with life. Well, anyways...My purpose for saying all this that it is so easy to just want to pull away from everything and everybody while I grieve. I swore to myself when I started this blog that I would contribute to it every few days no matter what, so this is what I am trying to do.

August 08, 2007

I am so new to all this blogging business. Still learning how to add links, photos and all that good stuff. I am also recovering from recent surgery. Needless to say I am so unprepred for this but I really want to participate. I can only hope that my meager little offering will be sufficient! I don't really have a tutorial available so I thought I would just share with everyone one my favorite things to make, glitter covered crepe paper flowers. I took these photos in a hurry this morning to please bear with me. To begin, just scrunch and gather the crepe paper as you slowly turn the newly forming flower. When the flower is big enough, I usually secure the bottom with a little bit of thin florist type wire. After fluffing it out a little bit, I give the lightest dusting of spray adhesive. Immediately I sprinlke glitter over the tiny bloom and the go over it once more even more lightly to "freeze" the glittler in place & to keep it from sparkling up the house. It's that simple! Of course you can modify these buy using different colored paper, glitter or by cutting and fringing the edge of each bloom. Following is a close up of how I used some of these flowers to decorate a paper mache friend of mine.

I also want share a few tips with everyone. Y'know those little triangular cosmetic sponges you're supposed to use on your mug? Well these are great for blending paints and ink. I picked this package of misc sized sponges for $1 at my local neighborhood $ store. I do believe that this is also the same material or at least very similar to the material used on more expensive blending tools that are sold at our favorite craft stores. Also, I would like to advise everyone to run out to their nearest BIGLOTS store. If you do not normally shop here, now would be a great time to start. Look what I found there recently: K & Co chipboard letters $1, KI Memories Red Hot Alphabet letters $1, Delta Pigment Ink $1 (these work similar to those great paint dabbers!) and foam stamps for $2. Y'know those 12 x12 paper kits that normally sell at Target & Wal-Mart for $5.99 to 7.99? They had those too, for $2!! Worth checking out....I hope everyone has a wonderful day and that they pick up lots of new tips. I think that this is going to be way to much to enjoy in just one day. Thanks Artsymama for many more days of inspiration to come!!! Beautiful Get Well roses. Thanks again Janice.

August 07, 2007

A few words here about my friends house around the corner. Janice I hope you don't mind me sharing this!
We moved to the neighborhood November 2001. At first sight of this house I vowed to get inside somehow someway if it was the last thing I did. 6 years later and the home is now owned by a wonderful lady with a big dream. Janice is hoping to turn this incredible treasure into a B & B. I have since been lucky enough to be in this house many times and I feel privileged to be able to see this dream slowly unfurl. Like many others I often daydreamed of finding an old house and opening a B & B myself. But my goodness! It takes a very special person with very special talents and I truly believe that Janice is just the person to do it. I had NO idea whatsoever how much work this house needed on the inside. And just like an episode on HGTV or This Old House, there are new challenges on a daily basis. I've added just a few pictures to my photo album section. "Grace" is a rare beautiful treasure in her own right. Maybe later when I can get all the details on how she came to live with Janice I will pass them on.

August 06, 2007

I had meant to post these photos before my surgery but ran out of time. The week before my surgery I was able to drag myself around the Carson Rubber Stamp Show which is always such a treat. If you are like me, a true addict, you feel no pain surrounded by goodies such as this. Boy did I pay for it afterwards with a massive headache. As I always like to do when I am by myself, I first walked the entire show and then went back to see if I could maybe find a little bargain or two. I am told that Tim usually attends this show but my first time around the floor I couldn't find any sight of him. "Oh well" I thought. It was probably for the better. If he had been there I would have just gotten myself into a tizzy and would be tempted to purchase all sorts of things that I didn't have the funds for. Well what do you know! As I was getting ready to leave, HELLO! He had been there all along. I must have walked by while he was on a break or something. This guy is such fun to watch. You tell yourself "I'll definately remember how he did that when I get home". Right. Here are some examples of his wonderful work. And a close up or two. I must confess that it is such how joy to watch this man in action. And almost as much fun is to watch the little crowd that forms whenever he appears. Ladies admit it! You know how excited you all get! I am happy to admit that I kept control of my wits. The only thing that I indulged in was a bottle of Crackle Accents by Inkssentials. I was very proud of myself.